Questions to Ask During Your Memory Care Tour
Walking into a memory care community for the first time can feel overwhelming. Having a structured list of questions helps you stay focused, compare communities objectively, and make sure nothing critical is missed. Print this list and bring it with you.
Safety & Security
- How do you prevent residents from leaving the building unsupervised?
- What elopement prevention technology do you use (door alarms, wander-guard bracelets, GPS)?
- What is your fall prevention protocol, and how are falls documented and communicated to families?
- Are outdoor spaces secured and accessible for residents to use freely?
- How do you handle medical emergencies after hours?
- What is your fire safety and evacuation plan for residents with cognitive impairment?
- When was your most recent state licensing inspection, and can I see the results?
Staffing & Training
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day shift? The evening shift? Overnight?
- What specific dementia training do your caregivers receive, and how many hours annually?
- Is a licensed nurse on-site at all times, or only on-call?
- What is your annual staff turnover rate?
- How long has the current director of nursing been in this role?
- How do you handle situations where a resident becomes agitated or combative?
- What is your approach to sundowning?
- Are the same caregivers assigned to the same residents consistently, or does the assignment change frequently?
Costs & Financial
- What is the current base monthly rate, and what does it include?
- How are care levels assessed, and what are the additional monthly costs for each tier?
- Is there a community fee or move-in deposit? Is any of it refundable?
- How often do rates increase, and what has the average annual increase been over the past three years?
- Do you accept Medicaid waiver payments? If so, how many Medicaid-funded beds are available?
- Do you accept VA Aid and Attendance benefits?
- Will you work directly with my parent's long-term care insurance provider?
- What services are not included in the base rate and are billed separately (pharmacy, incontinence supplies, physical therapy)?
- What is the billing process if my parent passes away or moves out mid-month?
Daily Life & Programming
- Can I see today's activity schedule? Is this representative of a typical day?
- How are activities adapted for residents at different stages of dementia?
- What happens when a resident does not want to participate in activities?
- How many meals are served daily, and can I see a sample menu?
- How do you accommodate dietary restrictions, food preferences, or texture-modified diets?
- Can residents eat on their own schedule, or are meal times fixed?
- What personal belongings can a resident bring? Is there room for furniture from home?
- Are there outdoor activities and access to gardens or walking paths?
- What is your policy on visits from family? Are there any restrictions on visiting hours?
Medical Care & Transitions
- How is each resident's care plan developed, and how often is it reassessed?
- How do you communicate changes in a resident's condition to the family?
- Do you coordinate with outside physicians, specialists, and therapists?
- How is medication managed? Who administers medications, and how are errors prevented?
- Do you provide hospice coordination for end-of-life care?
- Under what circumstances would a resident need to be discharged from this community?
- What is the process if my parent needs to go to the hospital and then return?
- Do you have physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy available on-site?
Verify What You See on MemoryCare
Before your tour, review the community's listing on MemoryCare. Every data point carries a trust label: verified, estimated, provider claimed, or unknown. Fields marked unknown or estimated are especially worth confirming in person. Our trust system helps you focus your questions on the areas where independent data is weakest.
Learn more about our verification process on the Methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions should I ask during a tour?
Bring your full list but prioritize. During a typical 60-to-90-minute tour, you will likely get through 15 to 20 questions comfortably. Focus on the questions most important to your family's situation and ask for a follow-up meeting or phone call to cover the rest. Most communities expect detailed questions and appreciate families who are thorough.
Is it appropriate to talk to current residents or their families?
Yes, and a good community will not discourage it. Speaking with families of current residents can give you candid insights that a tour guide may not volunteer. If you see family members visiting during your tour, a brief, respectful conversation can be very informative. Some communities also host family council meetings that you may be able to attend.
What if the community avoids answering a question?
Pay close attention to how the community handles questions they find uncomfortable. Evasion, deflection, or vague answers about staffing ratios, pricing breakdowns, or state inspection results are warning signs. A trustworthy community will answer directly, even when the answer is not flattering. On MemoryCare, data marked 'unknown' for a specific community may indicate areas where the provider has been less forthcoming.
Should I take notes during the tour?
Absolutely. After visiting multiple communities, details blur together. Bring this printed question list and write answers directly on it. Some families also take photos (with permission) of common areas, rooms, and activity schedules to review later. A brief voice memo after each tour, while impressions are fresh, can also be very helpful.
Can I do an unannounced visit?
Most communities allow drop-in visits during regular hours, and doing so can give you a more realistic picture of daily operations. If a community strongly resists unannounced visits, consider that a potential concern. That said, scheduled tours are still valuable because they allow you to meet with management and have your questions answered by the appropriate people.